Plastic gloves and glove dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pair of integrally formed plastic gloves is disclosed, in which the gloves are detachable from each other. A glove dispensing apparatus is also disclosed as including at pins engageable with pairs of plastic gloves.

The present invention relates to plastic gloves and an apparatus allowing such gloves to be easily dispensed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plastic gloves are used in a large variety of situations. Take, for example, the case in which a nurse has to wear a pair of gloves before entering a ward. Currently, the nurse may, bare handedly, pick up one of the gloves, open the opening and insert one of his/her hands into the glove. He/She may then open the remaining glove and insert his/her remaining hand into the glove. As discussed above, the nurse will touch the outside surface of the gloves with his/her bare hands before the gloves can be worn. In case of high sanitary requirements, such may defeat the purpose of wearing the gloves, as the outside surface of the gloves may thus be contaminated by the hands of the user. In addition, both hands of a user must usually be used in wearing the gloves. This may not be possible when one of the hands of the user is being occupied, e.g. holding other implements or articles. In such a situation, it will be very difficult for a user to wear a pair of gloves.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide plastic gloves, and a glove dispensing apparatus, in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the trade and public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pair of integrally formed plastic gloves, wherein said gloves are detachable from each other.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a glove dispensing apparatus including at least one engaging member engageable with at least a pair of plastic gloves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a top view of a pair of gloves according to the present invention;

FIG. 1B shows a sectional view of the pair of gloves taken along the line L-L in FIG. 1A, in which the thickness of the plastic film making up the gloves has been exaggerated for assisting in understanding;

FIG. 2 shows the manner in which the gloves shown in FIG. 1 are used; and

FIG. 3 shows pairs of gloves as shown in FIG. 1 engaged with a glove dispensing apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, such show a glove pair, generally designated as 10, as comprising two plastic gloves 10 a, 10 b formed integrally with each other. The glove pair 10 may be made of such plastic material as polyethylene (PE) films, the density and quality of which may be decided according to the use to which the glove pair 10 are to be put.

The gloves 10 a, 10 b are joined with each other via an intermediate part 12, which is also formed with the gloves 10 a, 10 b integrally. Openings 14 a, 14 b are formed during production of the glove pair 10, which openings 14 a, 14 b allowing insertion of a hand of a user into the interior of the respective glove 10 a, 10 b. The surfaces of the glove pair 10 are embossed, so as to allow easy separation of the plastic layers forming the gloves 10 a, 10 b, thus facilitating insertion of the user's hands. Two parallel rows of perforations 16 a, 16 b are provided on the intermediate part 12, and run across the entire width of the intermediate part 12. Between the rows of perforations 16 a, 16 b are two circular holes 18, the function of which will be discussed below.

As shown in FIG. 2, a hand 20 of a user may be inserted into the interior of a glove 10 a through the associated opening 14 a, without touching the outside surface of the glove 10 a, and without the help of another of his/her hand. Once the hand 20 is so inserted into the glove 10 a, the glove 10 a may then be torn apart from the intermediate part 12 along the row of perforations 16 a, while leaving the remaining glove 10 b intact with the intermediate part 12. It can be seen that by way of such an arrangement, the outer surface of the glove pair 10 will not be touched by the hands of the user before use, so as to maintain the cleanliness of the glove pair 10.

To further facilitate the easy dispensing of the gloves 10 a, 10 b, a dispensing apparatus is provided, as shown in FIG. 3 and generally designated as 22. The apparatus 22 includes a pair of boards 24 connected with each other via a spine 26. Upwardly extending from the spine 26 are two pins 28, each received within a respective hole 18 in the intermediate part 12 of the glove 10. A number of glove pairs 10, one lying on top of another, may thus be engaged with the apparatus 22, with the respective gloves 10 a, 10 b supported by a respective board 24.

In use, a user can easily insert each of his/her hands into a respective glove 10 a, 10 b and thereafter detach the gloves 10 a, 10 b from each other, and from the intermediate part 12, along the respective row of perforations 16 a. The intermediate part 12 will be left fixed on the spine 26 of the dispensing apparatus 22, via the pins 28. It can be seen that by way of such an arrangement, the outer surface of the glove pair 10 will not be touched by the hands of the user before use, thus maintain their cleanliness. In addition, both hands can be inserted into the respective glove 10 a, 10 b simultaneously, without the assistance of another hand.

It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations. 

1. A pair of integrally formed plastic gloves, wherein said gloves are detachable from each other.
 2. A pair of gloves according to claim 1 wherein said gloves are made at least principally of polyethylene.
 3. A pair of gloves according to claim 1 wherein said gloves are integrally formed with an intermediate portion.
 4. A pair of gloves according to claim 3 further including at least a perforation between said intermediate portion and at least one said glove.
 5. A pair of gloves according to claim 4 further including a plurality of perforations between said intermediate portion and at least one said glove.
 6. A pair of gloves according to claim 5 further including a plurality of perforations between said intermediate portion and each said glove.
 7. A pair of gloves according to claim 3 further including at least one engagement opening.
 8. A pair of gloves according to claim 7 further including a plurality of engagement openings.
 9. A pair of gloves according to claim 1 further including an opening associated with each glove allowing insertion of a hand of a user.
 10. A glove dispensing apparatus including at least one engaging member engageable with at least a pair of plastic gloves.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said at least one engaging member is adapted to fix at least part of said plastic gloves to said apparatus.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 10 further including a plurality of engaging members.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 10 further including support members for supporting said plastic gloves.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said support member includes a board member.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said engaging member includes a pin member.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said engaging member is engageable with a plurality of pairs of plastic gloves. 